Chakrata is an unexplored hill station. Situated on the outskirts of Dehradun city (75km). The best way to reach by road the main pit stops could be 1. Kalsi 2. Sahiya 3. Maggie Points
Start your journey from Dehradun and take the chakrata road crossing FRI, IMA , Prem Nagar. You can have your tea and breakfast at The Art Cafe Suddhowala, nicely decorated and in a peaceful environment. We have tried momos and pizza both were yummy. The owner pays special attention to every customer and is helpful too. After having breakfast fill your car tank with if empty.
You will now cross several important places like Balaji Dham, the State Science centre Champaran Handi Mutton etc. You can pit stop at your convenience. We preferred to stay at Badowala which is at Kalsi just before the Yamuna river bridge. Here you can enjoy pocket-friendly Samosa and tea ( Taste good ) and the size of the samosa will blow your mind.
Now after crossing the river bridge you will enter the Kalsi block where you can stop at Ashoka rock, which has a stone carving of that era. After this, a foreigner-restricted area (Army Area) . A Kali Mata temple is at the start of hill roads, you can stop and pay a visit.
Now the heavenly roads of Chakrata hills start and after a few minutes at pin shape bend, you will find Himachal’s last village on your left. The rocks of these hills are fragile and still moving, so be careful while driving.
Several maggie points and viewpoints with mesmerizing hilly views. Clean naturally flow water from large falls, wild lives and small tribal villages. there agriculatal fields and live stocks. A Heavenly feel.
After an hour’s drive just before a few kilometres from Sahiya, a continuous landslide will be seen. It has believed by locals that Lord Bheem has thrown his Gada once since then the landslide started. Which is still alive.
Now you can press the brake on Sahiya, A small market of nearby villages. Have tea and pakodas with the locally made Dhaniya, mint, Adark chutney. You can experience local tribal shops buying and selling their daily crops and a lot of Mahindra max, Bolero cars used to travel from different villages to sahiya. Every Max/Bolero is full of Goods, passengers even on their roof. Somebody from the mega city may get scared after seeing this deadly stunt of travel. But it is a harsh truth which these villagers face on daily basis.
After having your tea and pakoda take the right towards chakrata crossing again a restricted army area. A few km from Sahiya there is a bridge called Lal Pull, now it has been replaced with a new bridge but the British era name remained as it is. 1 km from the Lal pull take a right turn for Bisoi village.
This is a small tribal village of chakrata , we met Mr Hameer Chauhan from the village who is involved in several development projects and working with a Dehradun-based organisation called HESCO. Will talk about this organisation in detail in our next blog. For now, let’s experience this beautifully Bisoi village.
This village has traditional houses made out of deodar woods (abundant in the region). Beautifully carved and standing for the past 2 centuries. These houses mainly have 2 storeys. The lower one is for live stocks and the upper part is for humans. A big hall on the first floor is connected with small stairs made out of local stones, used for daily gatherings eating and sleeping. Besides the hall, the kitchen is full of all the modern-day’s amenities like a fridge, induction gas stove etc.
A big baramada made out of local stones used for processing field produce and other daily work. Everyone in the village has farmland which is obesely stair styled. Water for irrigation purposes has always been an issue, which is one of the major reasons for urban migration too. You are leaving villages in search of better jobs and opportunities. Local opportunities have limitations and reductions in monthly income push the migration.
Our Host and guide Mr Hameer trying his bit with the HESCO to arrange water, and agricultural innovation to reduce the migration issue and generate local livelihood opportunities.
Recently he got to know about the Homestay scheme and the opportunity in tourism but he is not ready to take a loan to renovate the house for homestay purposes. So is looking for some grants from development organizations that can help him renovate his house. Kaathkuni Edu-Tourism has promised free training on homestays to him and collaboration for the successful operation of homestays after renovation.
The food served at Mr Hameers house and the stories of local places made our days. He has 3 sisters elder to him and was there while our visit, so it was an amazing stay and experience overall.
While taking leave, he gave us pahadi organically grown vegetables. On our way back we stop for some tea at the Jaunsar Bio kiosk. Which is run by Mr Gopal with the help of several organisations like Organic Uttarakhand and HESCO. The tea and maggie served with smiles and stories made the experience holistic.
The dawn was so beautiful while coming back to Dehradun. Overall the Chakrata Village tour was a lifetime experience and memories to cherish.